As of May 19, 2026, US tech platforms are legally required to provide a way for people to report and request removal of nonconsensual intimate images and videos (NCII) under the Take It Down Act, a federal law backed by First Lady Melania Trump that passed with bipartisan support.
The law applies broadly to social media platforms, gaming services, and other online apps. The Federal Trade Commission, which is responsible for enforcing compliance, has published business guidance confirming the law’s scope. Broadband services are explicitly excluded.
WIRED contacted 14 companies that had disclosed federal lobbying spending on the act. The results were mixed. Several companies expressed support for the legislation but were slow to explain how users could actually file a takedown request. At least two companies hosted their reporting forms on third-party websites, potentially making them difficult to find. Some said they did not plan to launch their portals until the law’s effective date, despite having a full year to prepare. X Corp., owned by Elon Musk, did not respond to repeated outreach. Proton AG and Verizon also did not respond. T-Mobile said it does not operate the types of platforms the law covers.
Under the Take It Down Act, a valid removal request must include a way to locate the content — such as a direct link — a statement that the content was uploaded without consent, a signature from the person depicted or an authorized representative, and contact information.
Jennifer King, a fellow at the Stanford University Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, said the reporting mechanism is among the most important parts of the law, and one companies often overlook. She noted that many potential filers may be teenagers who are unfamiliar with their legal rights or unable to navigate compliance-heavy forms. “A lot of trouble with these types of reporting forms is that they don’t put any resources into testing them,” King said.
James Grimmelmann, a law professor at Cornell Law School and Cornell Tech, outlined the minimum requirements for a valid takedown request under the act.
Source: WIRED